Jimmy Wales wrote:
Christopher Mahan wrote:
It is acceptable for people to hold their own opinions and express them -- but not in an inappropriate forum. One of the cardinal principles of Wikipedia is respect for others, even others with whom we have significant political or other disagreements.
Absolutely. Even more so, in my opinion, of long-time contributors.
In a sense, I suppose. But once we're long-time contributors, we are friends (to a degree), and we can probably take a little heat, although it's best if it's kept private or avoided entirely when we can.
If I had to choose between "act more respectuflly towards old-timers" or "act more respectfually towards newcomers", I'd tend to favor the latter. But I don't think there's any "more so" needed.
I don't always follow my own advice here -- none of us always do, and that's part of the human condition. But courtesy and kindness is powerful magic, and we should use it in all cases to our best advantage.
But I do want him to know that I think that the way he expresses himself in the heat of "righteous outrage" is a bit detrimental to his reputation as far as I am concerned.
Well, I'm sure he's listening with an open heart to what you are saying.
Being too quick to treat a comment as offensive, or being excessive in reaction never helps. There is often a world of difference between egregious anti-Semitism and perceived anti-Semitism; I would tend to give the writer the benefit of the doubt. When the writer has been shown how his comment could be viewed as anti-Semitic, and has acknowledged the fact, that should be the end of the matter.
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